Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-02-17

DO ready to answer right sway
It'll be pitch dark and some of the
boys are nervous, after last nights
work. They'll shoot quick
That was to the Sergeant, but it was
a Paymaster who replied
We'll, now. Captain, we didn't say
30, but We thought the trip would be
safer by night than by day. The men
have got to have the money.
Hop. the Confeds won't get it chen.
Put her through, Sergeant, but look
sharp. The storms most got here
he also was correct about the weather
In ten minuts more ouch a storm had
arrived ~ was credit to Cape Hat
tsras and the whole sea cdaot of North
Carolina. On rolled the handcar, its
croushing passengers drsnched with
rain that fell in streams rather than
drops. The lightning flashed almost
necessarily, and the thunder seemed
TO be rolling around all over the swamp
Except Where streak of lightning
cleft it, the darkness was like solid
wall, and there was neither headlight
nor hand lantern provided for that
handcsr.
Worst storm ever saw remarked
the Sergeant, ind one Of the brace Of
men who were acting rs motive power
grunted back ut him. Its the worst
kiud Of a storm, but you can't see 1t,
1t was just correction Of the state
m.nt male by the Sergeant, but at
that moment hosrse, deep, all but
sepulchral voice from among the bush
es and blackness at the right Of tn:
track commanded:
Halt F.!
Stop her Quick boysl' exclaimed
the Sergeant, and az the men changed
instantly from motive power into
braces, he sprang from the car into
water abovd his knees and waded for
ward to answer the hail and give the
cou;tcrs;sn.
1t was all in vain. Down came A
double lpluge Of rain and thicker dark
Moss. Then r vividness Of blue cleo
tricty danced through the dripping
bushes and great roar of thunder fol-
lowed it as if in search Of the hidden
picket Neither rain, nor Lightning
nor thunder, nor the anxious question
ings Of the Sergeant discovered him.
There he was, or must have been
dead or alive, for he had said halt,
but that WAS apparently all ht Lad to
say.
Til. Sergeant splashed his way back
to the hand-car, using very strong lan
guage, and it WAS decided 10 90 forward
Wore Just as likely to be fired into
ir,t thing remarked the Paymaster
clerk, and they'd hit some of US, sure!
Both Of the paymasters agreed with
him, and one expressed bis satisfaction
that The box containing the greenback'
was waterproof.
That's more than l am, said one OF
the soldiers. This er rains goi
through my roof. I can feel it trickle
down inside Of me-
The hand car WAS not propelled rap
IDLY after that but the lightning and
thunder worked harder than ever
Perhaps half . mile had been gained
when another voice, on the left this
time and not 80 near. but equally
hoarse and peremptory, shouted:
Halt
Other words which seemed to follow
were swallowed up by wide-mouthed
clap of thunder, and 40 was the Ser
ge.nt's prompt response, but in an In
slant 10 wa. among the bushes.
Tie first We heard from him was:
Boya, it's up to my waist and get
ting deeper
Go on, Sarceant?' shouted one Of
, the paymas ers. They'll be shooting
at us if they don't get an answer
'Hurrah for General Burnside T.
aonavkcd the Paymaster's clerk, in
J vague effort to lot any supposed picket
know which side he WAS on, but a re
we're sternne.s from the further end
} babe him.
'sh,it M Halt! Come along